Being pregnant is a good reason to give up smoking – perhaps the best one you'll ever have. Smoking is harmful to the baby in the womb, during breastfeeding and if it inhales the smoke.
passive smoker. Passive smoking harms the baby in various ways. A baby subjected to passive smoking is at greater risk of cot death, allergy-related illnesses, respiratory infections, ear infections and colic. Establish a rule that smoking is only allowed outside and tell all your family and friends.
Arguments and facts to motivate you to stop smoking
• Carbon dioxide reduces the oxygen in the blood. As a result, your baby's brain gets less oxygen during pregnancy.
• Nicotine narrows the blood vessels in the umbilical cord and placenta, thereby reducing the baby's nutrient and oxygen supply.
• Women who smoke during pregnancy normally give birth preterm, and their baby has a lower birth weight and smaller organs that babies born to non-smokers.
Smoking harms the baby after birth
• The risk of cot death is two to three times higher in babies exposed to passive smoking. Your child's nursery or bedroom must be a smoke-free zone at all times.
• Smoking can cause babies stomach pain and colic.
• Research has shown that babies in smoking homes are more prone to asthmatic bronchitis between the age of 0 and 18 months, and a third of these babies get asthma sooner or later.
• These babies run a higher risk of developing allergy-related illnesses.
• They are more likely to get ear and throat infections under 4 years of age.
• Children exposed to nicotine can be anxious and cry a lot.
Giving up smoking can take a lot of focus and strength. Contact your midwife or maternity clinic. Help is available.